Monthly Archives: July 2011

Simple DIY Tips can help you fast become the handyman that your household needs.
It can get very expensive having to call out a plumber every time you spring a leak, then a tiler to replace the water damaged tiles from the leak. This article will try to give you some simple tips to help you fix the problems you will inevitably encounter in your house at some point.

However, as there is an endless list of scenarios that might need your skills and dexterity to resolve, i wont provide a manual for every possible eventuality but instead give my top 3 Do It Yourself tips and then my favourite quick-fix for a common household mishap. You will be able to find out where to get more information on specific scenarios at the end of the article.

Buy a good set of sturdy tools and a tool box. Remember ‘a bad workman always blames his tools’ – So, if you have yourself a decent set you can eliminate that excuse, can’t you? Make sure you have tools of all sizes and complete with all necessary fittings and accessories, plenty of screws, wall plugs, nuts, bolts and nails. Keep everything together and organised so that you can find exactly what you need straight away when you need it!

BE SAFE! Follow necessary safety procedures such as wearing goggles, gloves, guards and footwear. It has been noted that 40% of all admittances to hospital on the weekend are as a result of poor DIY safety. Make sure you are not one of those who said “It will be ok!”

Get a DIY manual There is a lot to learn. If you are not planning on taking a Handyman diploma then invest in a good manual, these are not expensive and will cover almost every eventuality.

A Simple DIY Fix For A Burst Copper or Plastic Pipe
You will need: A Pipe-slice, A Push-fit pipe.

First: Locate the damaged pipe; isolate the water supply and drain the pipe using the correct tap.
Then: Using the pipe-slice remove the damaged segment of piping by cutting either side of the damage.
Lastly: Push each freshly cut end in to the push-fit pipe as far it will go. It should not come out again by hand. Your burst pipe is now fixed!

Simple, easy and highly effective way of fixing a burst pipe without having to pay out any of your hard earned cash on a plumber!

Bathroom window curtainsare an important accessory for the bathrooms. They are used not only for the need for privacy but also for amplifying the aesthetic ambiance of the bathroom. Bathroom window curtains are different from the ones used in rest of the house as their usage and the environmental conditions in which they are placed are different. The bathroom window curtains are required to be strong, durable, waterproof and visually pleasing. They should not interfere with the ventilation and should give a neat look to the bathroom. The various styles for selecting the bathroom window curtains are simple curtains with curtain rods, shutters, draperies, window valances and shower curtains.

The most common materials used for bathroom windowcurtains are plastics and vinyls like the EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate). Plastic and vinyl curtains are easy to clean as they are totally water-resistant and can be wiped to clean. You can chose between various textures like transparent, translucent and opaque curtains. They are also color fast, look brighter and are made up of non-toxic chemicals.

Bathroom window curtains also come in fabrics like organic hemp, cotton, polyester and nylon. The fabrics which do not have good resistance to water are waterproofed artificially. These curtains are light in weight, waterproof and are easy to use. They are washable and can be preferred over plastic if you desire more elegance and softness for your bathroom window curtains.

The various styles for bathroom window curtains are the classic cotton draperies on a curtain rod. These are simpler to put up and easier to operate. You can chose a dark or light color depending upon your taste or choice of the kind of décor for your bathroom. The curtains can also be tied by various colorful ties and adjusted to both the sides of the window or can just be tied up at one side.

The shower curtains can also be used on the windows. These are normally available in plastic and vinyls. These come in many patterns such as plain colors, bright floral prints, toile and stripes.

The valances for the bathroom window curtains can be added to enhance the beauty of the windows. The valances made up of natural fibres like jute, bamboo and cotton give a clean and tidy look to the bathroom. Flounced, scalloped, balloon and ruffled valances add fanciness to the bathroom interiors. If you want an elaborate look, a colorful fishtail or scalloped swag valance with its long ends suspended on both the sides of the windows makes the bathroom look rich and stylish.

Shelf valances can come in handy for keeping decorative accessories in bathrooms such a seashells, crystal ornaments and fancy loofahs.

Beaded curtains are visually impressive and elegant. You can either buy or easily make a beaded curtain out of seashells. The seashells would give a beach like effect to the bathroom and also make it look quite contemporary. The acrylic crystal beaded curtains also come in various designs and light up the bathroom.

It’s been said that “it doesn’t cost the earth to save the planet.” If we all changed parts of our lives, from simply turning off appliances were not using to installing a solar hot water system we could reduce CO2 emissions and really make a difference.

When it comes to Solar Water Heating Systems, technology is well developed and there is a large choice of equipment that will suit many different applications. As well as providing you with a third of your hot water needs; a Solar Water Heating System can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 400kg, which is £40 a year of your hot water bill.

Solar Water Heating Systems can be used in your home or for larger appliances such as swimming pools. If installed correctly, they require hardly any maintenance and can even add value to your home.

In the UK the government is pushing more and more for everyone to become environmentally friendly and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of Solar water Heating.

o Solar Panels – these are fitted to your roof and collect heat from the suns radiation. There are two main types of solar panels, the first being flat panels, which have an absorber plate with a transparent cover to collect the suns heat. The second is evacuated tube systems, which is a row of glass tubes that contain absorber plates that feed into a manifold where heated fluid is transported.

o A Heat Transfer System – collected heat is transferred to heat water

o A Hot Water Cylinder – stores hot water that is heated during the day and supplies it for later use

A common concern surrounding Solar Water Heating Systems is what happens if there is not enough sun? A Solar Water Heating System monitors the water temperature and when this temperature becomes to low a backup system will activate to heat the water at the top of the cylinder, while solar power still pre-heats the water in the lower part of the cylinder. Even in winter a Solar Water Heating System accounts for 50% of all your water heating every year.

The average cost of a Solar Water Heating System installation is anything between £2,000 and £3,000 for a flat panel system and between £3,500 and £4,500 for an evacuated tube system. For the installation of a Solar Water Heating System it is ideal to use a south facing roof as you will receive direct sunlight for the main part of the day. You should also make sure you have adequate space for the water cylinder to be installed.

Solar Water Heating first really became popular in Florida and Southern California in the 1920’s. Then in 1967 20% of Israel’s population started using Solar energy due to a wealth of sunlight. Israel is now the world leader in the use of solar energy after a law was passed by Israeli Knesset in 1970’s following an energy cr